Monday, 20 January 2014

Same-sex
marriage is wedding between two persons of the same biological sex and/or
gender identity. Legal acknowledgment of same-sex marriage or the possibility
to perform a same-sex marriage is sometimes referred to as marriage equality or
equal marriage, mainly by supporters.

The first
laws in modern times allowing same-sex marriage was passed during the first
decade of the 21st century. As of 19 August 2013, 15 countries (Argentina,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark (excluding the Faroe Islands and Greenland), France,
Iceland, Netherlands (Aruba, Curacao and St Marten), New Zealand (including
Ross Dependency, but excluding Tokelau, Niue, and the Cook Islands), Norway,
Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Uruguay), and several sub-national authorities
(parts of Mexico and the United States), allow same-sex pairs to marry.

A law
has been passed by the United Kingdom, effective in England and Wales, which is
anticipated to be fully in force in 2014. Polls in diverse countries show that
there is growing support for lawfully identifying same-sex marriage across
race, ethnicity, age, religion, political affiliation, and socioeconomic class.